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| This Georgian watermill was described by Royal Commissioner for Historic Monuments James Williams as 'a very rare example of the gothic Revival style as applied to a functional building'. It was built by the Cholmeley family of Howsham Hall, and is probably the work of the then popular architect John Carr of York. |  Howsham Mill
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The mill at Howsham probably served a dual purpose - as a working corn mill, powered by the strong flow of the river and as an 'eye-catcher', or decorative landscape feature to be observed from the Hall and its approaches. The building still bears the traces of several unusually decorative elements among them a pyramidal roof once surmounted by a statuette, a corbel-bracket that once held a sundial, and leaded pane windows.
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The square shaped mill originally rose to two-storeys with a mezzanine area within the roof and was built of smooth stone blocks cut to shape and the site also features a partially demolished single storey granary barn. 
The mill was still in use at around the time of World War Two, but after the sale of the Howsham estate the property was divided up and the mill fell into neglect.
Although the structure is roofless, has lost its' waterwheel and has suffered vandalism, the basic structure still remains. In December 2003, an application was made to convert the building into a home, but when this proved impractical a charity was formed to undertake immediate remedial work to prevent further decay.
Given the uniqueness of the design of this mill and its place within a Conservation Area and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an application was made to have the Grade II listing reviewed. English Heritage agreed that in theory the building was well worth a Grade II* listing, but were forced to turn down the application due to the dilapidated state of the mill.
It is hoped that restoration will result in the mill being opened as an educational resource centre promoting renewable energy. It could be made to pay its way by using the reinstated waterwheel to generate saleable electricity.
Howsham is a tiny community of just 20 houses about 10 miles north east of York. As an early feudal village, the community's fortunes have been inextricably linked to those of the manor house. This has seen a fluctuation of population from a high of 199 in 1891 to a low of 112 in 1982.
The village was originally created to provide accommodation for local people employed on the estate. But during the 17th century it became fashionable to convert formal gardens back to open parkland, and subsequently many of the cottages were removed to improve the vistas. Today the population is around 160 people.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2006/north_howsham_mill_01.shtml
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